The Government of Ontario is inviting applications for the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP) to create a business climate that fosters growth, promotes innovation, and helps the industry adapt to an ever-changing business climate.
The FSIIP will focus on projects that benefit the applicant, the regional economy in which they are located, and Ontario’s forest sector overall.
The FSIIP will encourage businesses to make investments by providing financial support for projects that will improve productivity, increase innovation, support market expansion, strengthen regional economies and supply chains, and positively impact Ontario’s broader forest sector. FSIIP will assist Ontario forestry companies to develop and implement innovative technology and encourage innovation in products, services and processes to improve the competitiveness of Ontario’s forest industry.
The Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP) provides funding for strategic investments in the forest sector that:
improve productivity and innovation
enhance competitiveness
support new market access
provide benefits to Ontario’s broader forest sector
strengthen regional economies
Funding Information
Business projects
You can receive funding support of up to 30% of eligible costs in the form of a performance-based loan (of which, up to 50% may be forgivable).
Grants of up to 15% of eligible costs may be considered in exceptional situations at the discretion of the province.
Stacking with other provincial funding programs is not allowed. Stacking with other government support (for example, federal or municipal) is allowed to a maximum of 50% of eligible project costs.
Collaboration projects
You can receive funding support of up to 30% of eligible costs in the form of a grant to a maximum of $3 million.
Stacking with other government funding programs (for example, federal, provincial and municipal) is allowed to a maximum of 75% of eligible project costs.
Outcomes
Productivity:
support a highly-skilled workforce
increase industrial efficiency, technological development, product innovation and product variety
adopt leading-edge technology
Innovation:
build R&D / commercialization capabilities
foster collaboration between partners
embed innovation into business climate
drive innovative products, technology and production processes
Market expansion:
strengthen ability to compete in world markets
greater access to markets
foster domestic, international and interprovincial trade
Regional impact:
project will have a positive impact on regional economies in which the company operates
evaluation will give greater weight to the impact of a project on regions and communities experiencing regional disparities
Sectoral importance:
project will have a positive impact on Ontario’s broader forest sector
project addresses sectoral needs and priorities
Ineligible Projects
The following categories of projects are not eligible for funding under the program:
restructuring
mergers and acquisitions (such as purchase of an existing business)
Determination of eligibility for funding is at the sole discretion of the province.
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities are eligible to be considered for funding:
Business projects
Support is available for projects with at least $3 million in eligible costs undertaken by for-profit manufacturers and processors of wood and forest biomass across Ontario, including:
saw mills
pulp and paper mills
secondary wood manufacturers
bio-economy projects
Harvesting and resource extraction projects are not eligible for funding.
Collaboration projects
Support is available for Ontario-based projects with at least $3 million in eligible costs undertaken through a collaboration of:
forest sector for-profit businesses
not-for-profit research organizations
forest industry associations
academia
Eligible collaborations should develop, diversify and transform Ontario’s forest sector through innovation in technology, process and/or products.
A minimum of three partners are required (including at least one Ontario-based for-profit forestry/wood products company).
